07/31/2026
Welcome to the BobzBlog — Bobzbay Books' weekly roundup of news!
Check out the new releases from this week, including the trad-pub release of Daggermouth (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/7-28-26-release-daggermouth-by-h-m-wolfe/5SGSWDEMKV5EYVNS7WG4OV62?) by H.M. Wolfe (comes with signed bookplates & other goodies!), the paperback release of Swordheart (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/7-28-26-release-swordheart-by-t-kingfisher/13747) by T. Kingfisher (a McKenzie staff pick!), the deluxe edition of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/7-28-26-release-the-very-secret-society-of-irregular-witches-deluxe-edition-deluxe-edition-by-sangu-mandanna/RCFPODCJ6BSVHMIFTQ4RARUB?) by Sangu Mandanna (another McKenzie staff pick!), and Three Crime Novels (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/7-28-26-release-three-crime-novels-by-anthony-bourdain-bone-in-the-throat-gone-bamboo-and-the-bobby-gold-stories-by-anthony-bourdain/3W7UWA5DPFZISE4JUHFUYUZB?) by Anthony Bourdain (which Sydney hasn't read yet but is very excited about!)
Find all July releases here (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/july-2026-new-upcoming-releases/XIQO5TY3GHUHLAJE3OM33Y6E?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=created_date&sort_order=desc) & incoming August releases here (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/august-2026-new-upcoming-releases/K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=created_date&sort_order=desc) .
Upcoming Events
Check out all of our upcoming events (https://bobzbay.square.site/events) on our website!
A reminder for the Bobzbay Bingo-ers: attending an event at the shop is one of the bonus challenges! If you're attending one of our upcoming events, don't forget to bring your bingo sheet to be stamped!
We're so excited to welcome local artist Kelly Robertson back to the bookstore on Saturday, August 1st from 10am - 2pm for another whimsical pop-up art shop! Kelly is the creator of our August bookmark of the month and it's incredible (and free with any Bobzbay purchase!) Keep reading this email for an ~exclusive~ sneak peek... 👀
You may also recognize Kelly's art from the other bookmarks she's designed for us, as well as her magical stickers & prints (https://bobzbay.square.site/s/search?q=kelly%20robertson) that we carry in the shop. If you can't get enough of her fantasy-inspired artwork (we know we can't!) then join us at the shop this Saturday (tomorrow!) for your chance to meet the artist and shop original artwork, prints, stickers, sun catchers, and more!
Swing by Bobzbay Books Thursday, August 6th through Sunday, August 9th for another Dollar Days $1 Book Sale! (Plus, you'll have some extra time to browse on Friday, August 7th because we'll be open late 'til 8pm for First Friday!)
In this sale you'll find lots of manga, graphic novels, comics, & young adult books in addition to nonfiction and fiction books in a variety of genres -- all for $1 each! We'll have two sale tables up front filled with great books to browse. Come grab a stack for summer reading or to stock a Little Free Library and help us make some room to refresh our shelves! (To help us keep costs down, we're encouraging shoppers to bring their own bag(s) and cash for the dollar books please!)
We hope you'll join us -- we're excited to see you (and see who you find!)
If you are looking for a laid back place to meet new friends, share your love of spoken word, or just listen to some great poetry, please join us at Bobzbay Books (419 N. Main St. Bloomington, IL) on Saturday, August 8th from 4pm-5pm for our monthly Open Mic Poetry series! Open Mic Poetry takes place in the children's room in the back, seating & sign-ups will be available around 3:45pm.
Staff Corner
Check out past staff picks & read about our fantastic crew here (https://bobzbay.square.site/about-us) !
Other News!
We'll be switching out our in-store book displays this weekend! We don't have the new displays listed online yet, but here's a sneak peek at the Back to School ̶d̶i̶s̶p̶l̶a̶y̶ curriculum we're curating 📓
Come see us in person to check out the new titles we're highlighting, and shop our past in-store displays online by clicking here (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/store-displays/362) !
Construction Update: We Have Sidewalks!
(But they will try to trip you!)
It's true: we have a sidewalk again! However, it's currently a tripping hazard so please be extra careful until the city installs the necessary safety and accessibility features. (We've asked but nobody knows when that will be 😕)
The roads are still under construction, but it looks and feels like we're making progress. Thanks again to everyone who's supported us during construction! We appreciate you! 🫶
New to the newsletter or need an update about where to park during construction? Visit this page (https://bobzbay.square.site/construction) on our website!
See you next week!
I hope to see you in-person soon (we're open 10-6 weekdays, 9-5 Saturdays, & 11-5 Sundays). You can always text us at 309-434-9515 if you'd like a book recommendation or if you want to place a special order.
Keep loving one another, be patient, and spread kindness.
Local Events!
Have an event you'd like us to include? Email us and we'll be sure to include it!
8/3 BloNo Craft Club @ Bloomington Public Library "Join us for CRAFT CLUB!
Blono Craft Club is a community craft club, anyone is welcome to join at any time.
Participants should bring a craft (any craft-diamond painting, knit, crochet, scrapbook, punch needle- whatever you like!) and work on it alongside other crafters.
The purpose of the club is to build community while pursuing creativity.
Although the meeting is scheduled from 5:30-8pm, participants may come late and leave early if they need to!
We will meet in COMMUNITY ROOM 2!"
For more information visit this link (https://fb.me/e/4NDCLcf5Y) .
8/6 20th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting & Party @ Red Raccoon Games "Ok, Red Raccooners.....can you BELIEVE we have been open for 20 years?!? WOW! Ken started Gryfalia's Aerie and built this beast for eight years! Jamie has taken the helm for the last twelve...and now we get to come together to celebrate TWENTY years!
You KNOW we love to put on a celebratory party....plan on some great food and goodies. So, park in the deck across from Rosie's, navigate some of the construction happening (to make DT even better!), and walk on over to the 300 block of Main.
Have RRG garb? We would LOVE if we were wearing it....the more vintage, the BETTER!!
We could not have done any of this without our amazing friends, family, employees, and customers. We are so appreciative of ALL of you! Let's celebrate, RRG style!!"
Red Raccoon will be joined by Keg Grove, Carl's Ice Cream, Donny Bs Popcorn, Miss Kims Konfections. Stop by for brats, cake, & drawings!
For more information visit this link (https://www.facebook.com/share/1JUhZwZn2M/) .
All month long: Punkrocker: Music and Activism in the Heartland, an exhibition by Sonny Garcia at Coffeehouse "This exhibition presents black-and-white photographs as both veil and mirror to our times, created in response to the rise of an American fascist regime. The images capture the local resistance-its rage, beauty, and solidarity-spanning generations, faiths, and identities. Born from a lifelong love of punk sparked at 16, when Sonny Garcia first dove into a mosh pit at an Uptown Normal show in the 1980s, his work channels punk's raw defiance and radical love for community."
Follow Sonny on Instagram here (https://www.instagram.com/sunmanisdead_photography/) .
All month long: Facing Frida: A Multimedia Exhibition in Three Parts @ Art Vortex Studio “Facing Frida is a collaboration of Latinos en Blono, Go Piñata, hej creative, and Art Vortex Studio. The opening reception will include a meet-and-greet with the artists and refreshments.
“Facing Frida” was born in part from the dual-language photo exhibition, “Lele, la muñeca mexicana - Lele, The Mexican Doll," by artist, journalist, and Mexican mom Yolanda Alonso of Latinos en BloNo hosted at Art Vortex Studio from September to November 2025.
The exhibit features the visual explorations of three local women responding to the work and life of Frida Kahlo in ways specific to their artistic practices and lived experience. Coinciding with the week of Kahlo’s birthday (July 6, 1907) and extending through Latinx Heritage Month 2026, this dual-language exhibition offers opportunities to consider the sur/realism of life, love, language, lore, and more through portraiture, paper, and photography.
Other dates to view Facing Frida: A Multimedia Exhibition in Three Parts include First Fridays August 7, September 4, and October 2 from 4-8 p.m., Saturdays July 11, July 18, July 25, and August 8, with a closing reception on October 17 from 10am - 2pm, and by appointment."
For more information visit this link. (https://www.facebook.com/share/1JLaM56u3F/)
Best Ways to Support Bobzbay Books
- Write a review on Google (https://g.co/kgs/EESqb8T) , Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/biz/bobzbay-books-bloomington) , and/or TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g35691-d20376181-Reviews-Bobzbay-Bloomington_Bloomington_Normal_Illinois.html) .
- Grab an audiobook from libro.fm.
- Buy an ebook or physical book from bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/shop/Bobzbay) .
- Shop with us in-store or online.
- Trade-in your books (find info about how to do that here (https://bobzbay.square.site/book-trade-ins) !).
- Subscribe to our email newsletter (https://squareup.com/customer-programs/enroll/ufyNpMuJtjLS?utm_medium=qr-download&utm_source=in-store) if you aren't already
Bobzbay Books Pet of the Week
Click here for an update from Bobzbay!
